The New England Patriots have their sights set on their next return to the NFL playoffs. However, the final week of the 2025 regular season did more than just set up their wild card matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers: It also set up their opponents for the 2026 regular season.
The Patriots will play eight home games and nine road games next season, and these are the teams they will face.
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New England Patriots 2026 Opponents
Unlike 2025, the Patriots will play a first-place schedule next year. Includes matchups with the other AFC division champions, as well as the entire AFC West and NFC North. Under the league’s 17th game rotation, New England will also travel to the NFC West.
All told, the schedule looks challenging. Of the Patriots’ 14 different opponents, eight made the playoffs this year.
New England Patriots 2026 Home Game Schedule
In addition to their usual divisional home games, the Patriots will also host some of the best teams in the NFL in 2026. They will also face two other quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 draft along with Drake Maye, Bo Nix of the Broncos and JJ McCarthy of the Vikings. Meanwhile, the Dolphins, Jets, Raiders and even Steelers could introduce new QBs in 2026.
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New England Patriots 2026 Road Game Schedule
The Patriots’ road schedule includes trips to some of the loudest stadiums in football, Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium and Seattle’s Lumen Field. It will also see a trip to Buffalo’s new home, a rematch of their playoff game with the Chargers and a meeting with another 2024 first-round QB, the Bears’ Caleb Williams.